Trying Something New

I’ve been hearing and reading a lot recently about no-till gardening. The theory is that when you till up all the weed roots, you are also disturbing the good micro ecosystems in the soil, so gardens are “healthier” if you can plant into untilled soil.  I am not sure I buy this line of thinking, but I have not stopped weeds by my previous efforts, so why not give it a try?

Usually, by this time of year I have pulled up the plants, taken down the fence, stowed the landscape timbers, and let the mowers turn my weedy garden back into yard.

This year I am trying something new – the no-till approach. The immediate benefit of this approach is that I do not need to take down my fence or remove the timbers. Much less effort! I also have the joy of cherry tomatoes and yellow tomatoes still growing on my two remaining tomato plants. I would have already pulled them up by this time last year.

The downside of this approach is looking out my window at knee high weeds filling my garden space!

I know that if I can put up with the weeds for a month or two more, these weeds will die on their own, but I am finding that difficult to do.

The plan is to pull the weeds and dead plants and lay them on the garden soil, cover all of it with cardboard to prevent regrowth, and weigh it down with a little mulch. Come spring, I can either remove the cardboard to plant, or cut out just as much space in the cardboard as the plants need.

Since I am hoping to plant garlic next month, I start with the little area of the garden I have set aside for garlic. (Really, how much garlic does one person need?)

Ripping out the healthy weeds strains my arm muscles and challenges my arthritic wrist, but this is a small space. Within 20 minutes, I have pulled all the weeds and spread them across the barren soil. Under the cardboard they should return their nutrients to the earth.

We shall see. If this no-till approach doesn’t work, I can always till the following year.

God gives me the opportunity to try new things in my relationship with Him as well. Traditionally, I have chosen Lent as my “try something new” time. 7 weeks. Certainly, I can do without something, or add something, or change things up for 7 weeks. But I don’t have to wait until Lent, just like I don’t have to wait for my weeds to die. Sometimes, I want to change things up now because I am tired of looking at the weeds.

The Bible paints a beautiful picture of what our live could be, filled with God’s Spirit, bearing His fruit, overflowing with love and grace for all mankind. But when I look at my life, I often see a lot of weeds, worldly concerns, unkind thoughts.

Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:4-7.

That is a beautiful garden! Since that really doesn’t describe me very well, I may need to try a new way to foster God’s transformation of me, and the growth of His fruit.

Maybe a new Bible study or small group; maybe more quiet time and meditative prayer; maybe a different Bible translation or a study Bible. Perhaps less time watching mindless TV? Perhaps I just need to be more conscious of my thoughts.

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worth of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8-9.

Such thoughts could be a marvelous weed barrier and maybe a no-till solution. Keeping my mind on such beautiful thoughts would definitely be worth trying!

Betsy